Blame the run game

[Joelist]

(11-27-2023, 02:45 PM)SunsetBengal Wrote: I do agree that there is nothing wrong with the bodies on the field, nearly as much as the scheme and play calling are not allowing them to develop any sort of rhythm running the ball.

Look at it like this, last year when Jackson was out from the Ravens, they were still a very strong team.  They were on the very edge of sending the Bengals home in the Wildcard round, if it weren't for a great individual effort on the part of Sam Hubbard.  

Why were the Ravens still a good team without their franchise QB?  Because their HC believes in the fundamental value of building a good football team from the inside out.  They select the best, most hard nosed blockers and tacklers that they can find, provide them with excellent coaching to fully develop the fine points of their game, and implement a play scheme that wears other teams down and essentially 'beats them into submission'.

The Bengals rarely even go into "physical mode", where they just line up and implement their will on the other team.  We've seen flashes of in the SF game, the Buffalo game, etc.  But when they go against their own division rivals, he pisses down his leg and puts them back into shotgun repeatedly.  The team simply must be able to go toe to toe with divisional opponents, as well as be able to move the ball on the ground in order to win championships.

This is partly what I was speaking about when I said the offense has to be redesigned to fit the strong suits of the players. We have a power line but we keep using concepts that are not best for power personnel (wide zones, lots of shotgun, naked backfields, no FB, etc.). Get under Center, run power (and even drive block sometimes) and prefer left to right and inside the tackle to the edge. Sample especially once he came back from the injury looking (and playing) rather more into strength and power can play FB. Play power ram ball and pass in playaction which will also help the receivers get a bit of separation (and stop the defense from teeing off).